There spoke with many, and particularly with G. Montagu: and went with him and Creed to his house, where he told how W. Pen hath been severe to Lord Sandwich; but theCoventrys both labouring to save him, by laying it on Lord Sandwich, which our friends cry out upon, and I am silent, but do believe they did it as the only way to save him. It could not be carried to commit him. It is thought the House do coole: W. Coventry’s being for him, provoked Sir R. Howard and his party; Court, all for W. Pen. Thence to White Hall, but no meeting of the Commissioners, and there met Mr. Hunt, and thence to Mrs. Martin’s, and, there did what I would, she troubled for want of employ for her husband,

spent on her

1s.

Thence to the Hall to walk awhile and ribbon, spent

1s.

So [to] Lord Crew’s, and there with G. Carteret and my Lord to talk, and they look upon our matters much the better, and by this and that time is got,

Wrote my letters to my Lady Sandwich, and so home, where displeased to have my maid bring her brother, a countryman, to lye there, and so to bed.

[The entries from April 10th to April 19th are transcribed from three leaves (six pages) of rough notes, which are inserted in the MS. The rough notes were made to serve for a sort of account book, but the amounts paid are often not registered in the fair copy when he came to transcribe his notes into the Diary.]

7
Annotations

The Royal Society today at Arundel House — from the Hooke Folio Online

70Apr. 16. 1668. Sr R Southwell presented 36 raritys. and 11. relations & Inquirys. amongst the Relatio[ns] there were in portuguese. of the nile. vnicorn. vses of the palm tree, the weed of the Red Sea which dyes the...pintadoes [ http://www.jstor.org/pss/1522729 ] quere).

Mr. Ricauts [ http://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclopedia/10441/ ] Letter from turky) giuing account of the way vsed in turky of Dressing their Leather wth. Acornes. The curator was orderd to suggest the like tryall to be made here with English Acornes by...the tanners of London (quere. Cesio tht brought this Letter presented 33 raritys)

The Curator produced againa Large Conicall tin Receiuer for the magnifying of sounds which being tryed was found to make words softly vtterd at a distance to be heard Distinctly, whereas they could not be soe heard without the Instrument.

The same produced a Muscle to shew how it consists of meer fibers or strings, lying close together Longwise like the fibres of tal[c].

"...merry at Sir W. Pen’s crying yesterday, as they say, to the King, that he was his martyr."

"Ah, ha, ha...What?"

"Your ill-gotten profits from the prize goods, sir."

***"...but the Coventrys both labouring to save him, by laying it on Lord Sandwich, which our friends cry out upon, and I am silent, but do believe they did it as the only way to save him. It could not be carried to commit him."

Didn't someone we know lay blame on Lord Sandwich a while back for "suffering a company of rogues...",etc...While nervously hoping to keep his own profit in the affair if possible? Given there seems little for Coventry to gain by saving Penn, it seems a decent act for a man who's done the Nation good service...Not to mention perhaps Coventry fears that if Penn goes down he might take the Naval Office and a certain CoA with him.

***

"So it's agreed...? We can't take the chance of our role in this affair getting out."

"Well...Pepys does talk a bit much but...He is a friend..."

"Not so good a friend as he was want to be, to me..." Warren frowns. "Though it's up to you...My role here being simply that of merchant."

"Warren...If James and I go down with Penn...You're going down as well."

"This all seems so sordid...Must we take such extreme measures? Surely I could speak to Samuel..."

"James...The man would sacrifice you in an instant. Look at how he's been chortling over poor Admiral Sir Will. The family...Larger than ever...Must be protected, Jamie. Just let deal with this..." pat on arm.

"Well, Betty...You know best in this affair. Just promise me Creed and Howe will be quick about it." Pierce sighs.

"Dr. Pierce, rest assured Howe and I will deal with this matter quickly and quietly...Mr. Pepys being an old friend." Creed nods.

"Far as I'm concerned you can take your time about it." Warren frowns.

"My only demand is that Father's hand must not be seen in this...And of course Mrs. Pepys must be left unharmed." Lord Hinchingbroke cuts in.

"We've not heard from our Chairman yet." Betty notes, looking to head of the table. Where Sir John Minnes eyes the group shrewdly.

"Pepys must go...With extreme prejudice...Not that I've allowed his contempt for my ineffectual inoffice persona to influence me. Indeed it's played a major role in keeping my part in all these things as silent as I would desire. Still, however useful he's been to our organization, if Penn goes down...So must he,but before he faces Parliament."

"'Extreme prejudice'...Nice turn of phrase, Sir John." Betty smiles. "So do I lure him out with a promise of no children coming along? Or do we dispose of him at Bagwell's, Martin's, or Burrough's?"

"Not at my home..." Betty Martin frowns. "I've always done my bit for our group, but there are some limits, you know."

"William would be happy to croak him..." Mrs. Bagwell notes.

"I'll gladly do it myself..." Burroughs, eagerly. "All I'm submitted to with him as a poor widow relying on his charity and all he gives me is a grubbly little Valentine cash gift."

"Now, dear..." Sir John raises hand. "Be fair. Samuel has never profitted near so much as we...Graft, espionage, prize goods...He could have cleaned up far more had he leaned more to our persuasion than to his love of the Navy and a bit less chatty about his exploits. Indeed it grieves me to have to dispense with his services for the sake of the Navy. He was a most capable administrator. Do you have anything to add, Betty...My love?"